Ah, Burning Man. This one has been on my Bucket List since
having kids when one of my dearest college friends Davey and I promised each
other that we would not be Lame. We promised we would return to Burning Man, kids in tow.
I don’t know what I was thinking the experience would be - a
bonfire roasting the Man and the kiddos realizing society’s rules are all
constructs? Um, right.
Davey decided BM wasn’t on his family list anymore, so I
decided to pull the trigger. Except this third time around was nothing like the
first two… when Alex and I went sans kids, we had a “wing it” strategy. Both
times, we had flown into Reno, picked up some food and bikes at Walmart, and
tented it. We tried hard to remember what the heck happened - but those were
not our most lucid moments…
This time around, it was months of planning, researching,
making lists, trying to figure out how to deal with the elements of extreme
heat during the day and cold during the night with a 7 and 11 year old. We nixed
on the RV and decided we could survive with tents and a shade structure. Then
we needed costumes, goggles, lights, food, water, and rental bikes and bike
decorations, which meant a minivan. I had even gotten the kids to design their
own Burning Man buttons to gift others. Now this doesn’t sound too hard except
when the shade structure is a carport, huge, and needs local delivery.
Thankfully we found an awesome Kidsville camp and after posting for help, so
many people reached out.
We packed the minivan tight! By the time we arrived to the
Playa Tuesday night, I was relieved. We had a little “house” our tents were
under with a tarp “floor” and big bins (Bryson and Scarlet both had their own)
to organize ourselves. We are such spare back country campers who don’t bring
toothpaste and only 1 underwear, this felt fancy. And wow, Burning Man
delivered.
Amazing art. Sculptures, lights, fire, art cars, innovative
camps, great music, cool costumes (or non-clothes), delicious food (snow cones,
vegan hot dogs, smoothies, and freshly picked pears from someone’s hard), and
generous gifts like a camp that gave away full new costumes (Kostume Kult) and
jewelry (Ephiphany and Co). There was an art car that had a shower and steam
room. Another art car that called Pulpo that was an octopus that breathed fire.
A huge pool sized trampoline. And of course the Temple and the Man. Plus
talented DJs and celebs like Chris Rock.
Bryson and I went out exploring until midnight and were
overwhelmed - there was so much to see! There were hundreds of drones in the
sky that made moving animals, like a rabbit jumping. Kidsville was a fabulous
camp for families. They had shaved ice at 4pm everyday, including a Playa Dust
(Kahlua for the adults). And neat Kidsville only events, like a private mutant
card ride to the Man, the Temple Guardians bringing us to the Temple and giving
a private talk, and my favorite The Community. Our neighbors Stacey, Michael,
and Max from Omaha were so kind and generously shared what they had with us -
coffee, salt, a stool, mallet, broom, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more!
Our favorite Kidsville event was an event called the
Deathguild. I was trying to decide between going to a bunny event where there
was a bunny parade and carrots where they trapped and spayed? you. I asked,
“What is Deathguild?” A fellow Kidsville parent, “It’s like fight club where
two people fight to the end with people screaming (cheering?) you on. Before I
could think it over, Scarlet and Bryson jumped up and down, “Deathguild!
Deathguild!” I still had my doubts but those turned into worry when I saw what
was in store for them. People hanging around a cage, “2 kids enter! 1 kid
leaves!” And basically 2 kids have foam bats to wallop as hard as they can at
the other kid. 3 rounds. Last one standing is the winner. Thankfully we found
two kids similarly sized. Bryson’s name was Pit of Darkness and he competed
against Duckman. Scarlet was Pink Tornado and he completed against Big
Marshmallow. You have to see the photos to see how intense it was. I am
surprised no one seriously hurt themselves!
We also go to see some mini burns like the Bridge burn,
Butterfly burn, and Robot burn. Bryson asked me, “What do you think burning the
robot means?” I shrugged, “What do you think?” Bryson, “Maybe it means man vs
robot and how robots are now taking over jobs?”
Hmm… I had spent hours and hours and hours preparing for all
things - huge wind, cold night temperature, 100 degree weather, dust storms… I
hadn’t planned on torrential rain. It hadn’t rained this big at Burning Man for
over a decade and Burners who have gone for over 20 years said they hadn’t seen
it this bad. The next thing we were running to our “house” and got pummeled by
rain. To make matters worse, water was pouring in from the bottom and our tarp
floor was starting to get flooded and one of our tents was taking in water. Our
house became a mud pit!
Burning Man then shut down the gates and all events. No one
in. No one out. We were stuck. Worse yet, they cancelled the Burning of the
Man. What were we gonna do? Oh but things did get more challenging. They told
us to ration our supplies, they couldn’t service the portapotties so it was
filling up (yuck!) and we needed to turn to pee bottles (Bryson learned how to
use a Gatorade bottle).
But there were also some highs. We saw a gorgeous double
rainbow. Had a cool experience at the Yum Truck where Scarlet experienced scuba
diving and I experienced being in outer space through our taste buds. Had a
mini Burn at Kidsville.
But best yet was getting to meet so many people who were
welcoming of the kids. They were so kind and even with things shut down offered
us pancakes with ice cream and berries and more jewelry and more art.
I asked Scarlet what her high was, “Food!” (Did I mention the
horchata snow cones and semen bubble tea? Yep, you read that right…)
Bryson’s high, “The community.” Also this from Bryson, “I
learned new vocabulary like sober. And also that alcohol can be available at
all hours of the day.”
We also discovered that the kids can sleep through intense
and loud music. It was like being in the middle of an electronic DJ party.
Reminds me of Bryson as as a newborn and me mistakenly renting an apartment
right above a club for a month. Oops!
Just when we thought we would be stuck at BM with the 72K
others (estimated to be 100K if it weren’t the gates being shut down to new
arrivals…), I had gotten up early… I really couldn’t handle being in the dance
club anymore and couldn’t sleep, and I got some insider info that they were
letting people who made it the 6 miles to the gate out.
Should we chance it? If we did, we would avoid the 12 hour
(maybe more?) lines that would most definitely happen once they opened the
gates. But if we got stuck, no one would help us and there was the shame from
mucking up the roads… We made a quick decision to throw all the muddiness into
our rental minivan. Our kind neighbors from Omaha helped us pack out and 45
mins later we were out! There were a few “rivers” that Alex had to gun it
across (other vehicles fishtailed which was a bit freaky). And we did the happy
dance! Woo hoo!
And even though we didn’t get to see the Man burn, we did get
a mini Burn at Kidsville.
Now you’d think that the adventure is over, but NO. After
months and months of planning, guess what I forgot… Alex’s birthday! Somehow I
confused the dates after buying tickets for the US Open. I suck, ugh. Thank
goodness Alex is the best partner ever and is so so so forgiving.
And that’s a wrap!
Cheri, a kind new friend we met through Kidsville, offers to store our HUGE shade structure.
The box is mega-heavy and barely fits in our mini-van.
Chicago Pizza with a Twist? As in tons of vegan options. We got the Chicken Tikka and Bombay Garlic and All-Meat Pizzas. Yes, all vegan, and all awesome.
Full blue moon to greet us on our way to the Playa.
Based on tradition, both kids hit the bell, "I'm home!"
We arrive Tuesday night and wisely (one wise decision!) decide not to try to put up our shade structure. Good thing too because it took 2 and a half hours!
During this, Scarlet loses one of her two front teeth.
The structure even had an awning.
Super clean (important because you'll see what happens later).
Mutant ride tour - the kids choose this one to ride to The Man.
The Man!
Parents bring babies here. Like this one playing with the cords. I think he chews it later?
Does this look safe? Who cares! It's Burning Man!
Scarlet jumps off the side, and I film it (hoping she'll land on the net 5 feet in front of her).
Meeting new friends Faris and Anna who are part of the Epiphany and Co. camp. They give free jewelry away. There are hundreds and hundreds of options.
Check out what the kids picked.
Trampolines everywhere.
The music was amazing. Strobe lights, fire, and awesome DJs. Lots of dancing!
This art piece was cool - it was for Black people to have a seat at the table.
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I got a copy of Peter's book!
Kidsville tour to The Temple.
You can write messages to loved ones who have passed.
Huge sandstorm.
Post sandstorm hair
This is the Deathguild. I kid you not with my story above.
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